| Course Name | Year | Term | Period | Faculty / Graduate School | All Instructors | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50559:Vision Building Special Lecture Ⅱ (P) | 2025 | Spring | Mon4 | College Of Policy Science | NARITA HIROKI | 2 |
Campus
Class Venue
Language
Course Outline and Method
In making public policy, we can face severe disagreements in the political processes. In such situations, policy disagreements can derive from disagreements about normative questions. For example, should the state mandate the wearing of masks during a pandemic? Do we have the freedom not to wear a mask? In examining this issue, we need to consider not only the scientific data on the protective effects of masks but also what freedom means. We also need to discuss whether public health or freedom is the more important value. In this sense, we cannot help examining such normative questions in making public policy.
This course introduces students to both the methods and views of Western political philosophy by exploring how they intersect with a range of policy debates currently prominent in many states, such as drug use, social security, gender equality, immigration, developmental aid, and environmental taxes.
Each class consists of a lecture part and a discussion part. Our discussions will be mainly based on the book "Introducing Political Philosophy: A Policy-Driven Approach" by William Abel et al.
Student Attainment Objectives
• Develop skills that allow one to defend a position based on reason
• Criticize existing policies from a philosophical perspective
• Present your ideas through discussions with other students
Recommended Preparatory Course
Course Schedule
| Lecture/Instructor（When there are multiple instructors) | Theme |
|---|---|
| Keyword, References and Supplementary Information | |
| 1 | Introduction |
•The instructor will give more detailed information on the evaluation criteria and course outline.
|
|
| 2 | Euthanasia and freedom (Chap. 2) |
We examine the justifiability of physician-assisted suicide and voluntary active euthanasia. |
|
| 3 | Hate speech and freedom of expression (Chap. 3) |
We consider the limits of freedom of expression in restricting hate speech. |
|
| 4 | Recreational drugs and paternalism (Chap. 4) |
We examine the validity of policies that discourage recreational drug use. |
|
| 5 | Affirmative action and discrimination (Chap. 5) |
We explore the purpose and grounds for affirmative action. |
|
| 6 | Schools and equality of opportunity (Chap. 6) |
We investigate the disputes about the prohibition of elite private schools. |
|
| 7 | Basic income and distributive justice (Chap. 7) |
We examine Rawls's theory of justice and its implication for basic income. |
|
| 8 | Paternal leave and gender equality (Chap. 8) |
We consider the policy of mandatory leave for all parents to promote gender equality. |
|
| 9 | Minority exemptions and multiculturalism (Chap. 9) |
We explore cases when minority exemptions from the law are justified. |
|
| 10 | Judicial review and democracy (Chap. 10) |
We consider a ground for constraining democracy in favor of individual rights. |
|
| 11 | Intensive animal farming and moral status (Chap. 12) |
We search a moral ground for regulating intensive animal farming and treating animals as moral subjects. |
|
| 12 | Environmental taxes and intergenerational justice (Chap. 13) |
We examine arguments for environmental taxes from a duty of the current generation to provide future generations with equal prospects. |
|
| 13 | Immigration and the political community (Chap. 14) |
We consider arguments for open borders and arguments against policies that restrict immigration. |
|
| 14 | Developmental aid and global justice (Chap. 15) |
We examine the claim that affluent states have a duty to devote significant funds to developmental aid. |
Class Format
Recommendations for Private Study
Grade Evaluation Method
| Kind | Percentage | Grading Criteria etc. |
|---|---|---|
| Final Examination (Written) | ||
| Report Examination (A report to be submitted by the unified deadline) |
||
| Exams and/or Reports other than those stated above, and Continuous Assessment (Evaluation of Everyday Performance in Class) |
100 | • Attendance 15%
|
Grade Evaluation Method （Note）
• Students are required to submit weekly assignments including summaries of the text and reflection sheets.
• Assignment submitted without class attendance will not be accepted.
• The instructor will give some important information on the course organization and evaluation criteria in the first week of class.
Advice to Students on Study and Research Methods
1. Show respect for others.
2. Listen when another person is speaking.
3. There is no stupid question.
Note: The discussion includes very controversial and sensitive issues such as euthanasia and discrimination.
Textbooks
| Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN Code | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introducing Political Philosophy: A Policy-Driven Approach | William Abel, Elizabeth Kahn,Tom Parr and Andrew Walton | Oxford University Press | 9780198783275 |
Textbooks （Frequency of Use, Note）
Reference Books
Reference Books （Frequency of Use, Note）
Web Pages for Reference
How to Communicate with the Instructor In and Out of Class(Including Instructor Contact Information)
Other Comments
URL:https://secure.ritsumei.ac.jp/students/pathways-future/course/curriculum.html/